Starting a business in Jersey
- Rank of 25 · provisional
- =12
- Index score of 100
- 78
The case for Jersey
Jersey is a good place to establish a holding company, fund vehicle or special purpose vehicle that will be administered professionally. The standard rate of company income tax is 0%. Regulated financial services pay 10%, utilities, large retailers and Jersey property income pay 20%, and Jersey members of groups with turnover above €750 million pay 15%. Incorporation through the JFSC Registry costs £205 for the standard 5 business day service. The annual confirmation fee is £220, or £339 for a company administered by a trust company or fund services business. GST is charged at 5%.
Jersey suits less well an owner who wishes to relocate on a modest budget. Housing and work are controlled by law, so a newcomer needs Licensed permission through a business, the Skilled High Earner route with at least £250,000 a year of Jersey taxable income, or High Value Residency with income above £1.25 million. The main drawback is cost: the average 2 bedroom flat sold in the second quarter of 2026 cost £580,000.
How a company is taxed
The standard rate is 0%, with 10% on regulated financial services, 20% on utilities, large retailers and Jersey property income, and 15% for large multinational groups. GST is 5%. Income tax is 20% of net income, or a 26% marginal calculation if that gives less tax. Income below the £21,250 exemption for 2026 is not taxed. There is no capital gains or inheritance tax.
Setting up and running a company
5 business days
Standard incorporation costs £205 and takes up to 5 business days, with faster paid services down to 2 hours for £856. The annual confirmation fee is £220 or £339.
Registered office and secretary
A company must keep a registered office in Jersey and have a company secretary. A private company needs at least one director, and a sole director cannot also be the secretary.
Not public
Beneficial owners are declared to the JFSC Registry at incorporation, and the register is not public. A consultation on legitimate interest access closed on 30 January 2026.
Licensed permission or HVR
Business principals can apply for Licensed permission with a business plan. The Skilled High Earner route needs £250,000 a year of Jersey taxable income, and High Value Residency income above £1.25 million.
Fees shown are government registry fees only. Agent, licence, office, audit and professional costs are additional and usually make up most of the cost of setting up.
Life in St Helier
- Population
- Statistics Jersey provisionally estimates 104,490 residents at the end of 2025.
- Housing
- In the second quarter of 2026 the average 2 bedroom flat sold for £580,000 and the average 3 bedroom house for £797,000. Prices were 5.0% higher than a year earlier.
- Flights
- Jersey Airport lists 30 direct destinations, including London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam and Munich.
- Housing rules
- Newcomers are limited in what they can rent or buy. Full Entitled status normally takes 10 years of continuous residence, and Licensed residents may own one home as their main residence.
Wealth, inheritance and a family home
- Inheritance and gift tax
- Jersey has no inheritance tax, but probate stamp duty is charged on estates above £10,000, at 0.5% up to £100,000 and then £500 plus 0.75% of the excess, limited to £100,000.
- Wealth tax
- There is no net wealth tax in Jersey.
- Capital gains
- Jersey does not levy capital gains tax.
- Personal income tax
- Income is taxed at 20%, and a High Value Resident pays 20% on the first £1.25 million of income and 1% above it, with a minimum of £250,000 a year.
- Tax information exchange
- Jersey was an early adopter of the Common Reporting Standard, and its financial institutions report to Revenue Jersey, which exchanges the data with other countries and with the IRS under FATCA.
- Buying a home
- Buying a home generally needs Entitled status, which normally takes 10 years of residence, or Licensed status for business principals, and High Value Residents must buy a house worth at least £3.5 million or a flat worth at least £1.75 million, with stamp duty on the purchase.
The Jersey dossier
About 30 pages on business and life there, with official sources.
Questions people ask about Jersey
The standard rate is 0%. Regulated financial services companies pay 10%, and utilities, large retailers and income from Jersey property pay 20%. Jersey companies in groups with turnover above €750 million pay 15%.
The standard service is within 5 business days and costs £205 in 2026. Faster services cost £308 for 3 business days, £395 for 2, £543 for 1 and £856 for 2 hours.
Yes. Every company must have a secretary. A private company needs at least one director, and a sole director cannot also act as secretary.
The annual confirmation fee is £220, or £339 for a company administered by a trust company or fund services business. It is due by the end of February, and late filing costs £77 rising to £774.
Jersey charges GST at a standard rate of 5%. A business must register once its taxable supplies exceed £300,000 a year.
No. Beneficial owners and controllers are declared to the JFSC Registry, and the register is not open to the public. The government consulted on legitimate interest access from 31 October 2025 to 30 January 2026.
Income tax is 20% of net income, or a 26% marginal calculation where that is lower. High Value Residents pay 20% on the first £1.25 million and 1% above it, with a £250,000 minimum.
Business principals and essential employees can apply for Licensed permission with a business plan. The Skilled High Earner route needs £250,000 a year of Jersey taxable income, and High Value Residency needs income above £1.25 million and wealth above £10 million.
Thinking about Jersey?
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